Instrument for the presentation of quantitative data in visual graphic form



- Nov. 15, 1949 R. SENEGAS 2,438,333

INSTRUMENT FOR THE PRESENTATION OF QUANTITATIVE DATA IN VISUAL GRAPHIC FORM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 "M W WW 5 a H\\\\\\ 6 v w f F. p 2 41 m M 1 7 l 1 4. i ,0 2% i: m W f M 1:: g d M a g M Y 7 B HHH.

20 "WNW W m i O O O O O O O l. O O' O OO O O O O O O- O O 19 1.17 I aIISrII iIIQ-VITZIII Nov. 15, 1949 R. SENEGAS 2,488,338

INSTRUMENT FOR THE PRESENTATION OF QUANTITATIVE DATA IN VISUAL GRAPHIC FORM Filed Feb. 6, 1946 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 I "I z? V IN VEN TOR. 1 36726 ,lwzeyaw ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 15, 1949 INSTRUMENT FOR THE PBESENTATIONOF' QUANTITATIVE'DATA IN VISUAL GRAPHIC FORM Rene Senegas, New-York-; N: ApplicationFehr-uary 6, 1946; Serial'No; 645;766 2 Claims. (Cl. 116135) This invention relates :to an'in'strument for the presentation of'. quantitative data in visual graphic form. r

One vobject'lof the invention 'isto provide adevice-of such universal application that it serves the var-iabl'eneeds of students; educators, psychologists, sociologists, economists," statisticians; research technicians, business men; journalists; draftsmen engineers, and many other professional workers. I

Anotherobject of the invention is to'provide a simple, easily operated device with a minimum of movable parts whichsaves-much time, effort and expense in the visual'representation of statistical tables and similar numerical data. The actual labor of assembling the movable parts" may be delegated to untrained, unskilled assistants, resultingin-highly economical division of labor.

Another object of the invention is to provide forrapid, easy. interchangeability of the indicating members to permit an infinite numberof combinations of effects: composedoi bars divided into areas: ofdifferent solid colors, differentpatterns such as linea-crOss-hatching, stippling, andalso pictorial-isotype symbols representing different objects.

Another'object of the invention is to provide a mechanical deviceier representing graphic charts with a clean, neat appearance so that, when photographed for permanent file records or reproduction in printed matter, theyresemble typical hand-drawn graphs without irrelevant, extraneous 'mechanism.- By saving. time and expense, publishers could include many more accurate charts than might Joe-possible if each-original had tobedrawn by. hand;-

The invention consists ofa removable core in a'frame, onwhich core beltsare arrangedto be movedtoindicatea graph. The belts are elastic to be readilyappliedto the core and toice-removed therefrom '-to permit substitution of a other belts. The belts may be=colored-orotherwise marked. Preferably; the corehas guide portions register ing with guid'eways in the frame-and. projections'to register with grooves'ifi the' frame. Prefer'ably "the core has tr-acks formed by partitions between which partitions the belts are mova'ble.

The in'verition-will be further described, embodiments thereof shown in the drawings, and the inventionwill befinally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 ism -front elevation bi ths-"improved instrument embodying the invention;

Fig." 2"is a section taken along the 1ine'2'-'2 of Fig. 1;.

Fi'gI 3 is an eniargednagmentar perspective view of the movable portions of the instrument as seen when removed from the outer frame;

Fig. 4 is afragmentary section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig; 3}

Fig. 5 is a perspective viewof the one-piece outer frame-forming part of the structure shown in'l i'gl' 1;

Fig. 6 is'a perspective view of the one-piece inner core forming part of thestructure shown F 1";

Fig. 71s a perspectiveviewof the endless belts which fit over'an'd engird the inner core shown in Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a section taken along the line 8 -8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 isa'section' taken along'the line 9-9 of Fig; 6?.

Fig. 10 is asection taken along. the'line' llll0 of Fig; 6, and

Fig. 11 is a section taken alon'gthe line I l-|l of Fig. 6

Similar charactersof'reference' indicate correspending partsthroughout the various views.

Referring to'the drawings, andmore particu larly to Fig. 1, the instrumentshown enables a presentation of quantitative data in visual graphic'form. Belts are shown having contrasting'p'ortions, and these beltsare movable each to its own position; The frame around the belts has vertically arranged references and horizontally arranged references. The belts are moved-so that the colorpartitioncorresponds to the relation of the figures on the ordinate and on th'e abscissa. The ultimate positioning of the respective partitions of the .belts indicate then the graph, as-well known.

The improvement consists'offprovidinga one piece outer shell l2 (Fig. 5) preferably made of plastic material. This shell- 12 formsa frame of three sides,.the fourth-side bein open.- The front surface of each of 'the three. sides is provided with grooves 20, arranged-horizontally and grooves 2! arranged vertically, to enable changeable references as shownin Fig. 1 tobe appliedin the mannerwell known. The. vertical portion of the frame I 2.v is :providedlwith a-cutout formed. by the vertical wall' I21? and .by the-horizontal and parallel curved. walls- In and. l2b. Disposed'in this cutout and betweenthe curved wallsJZw-and 12b areparallelandspaced recesses IQ of dovetail shape. (Figs. 2, 5 and S.)

An inner core. I3+ (Fig.6) consists of-two end members l3'ctand. [3b,which have. upper and' lowercurved portions conforming in shape to thecurvedwalls lzaand Hoof-the frame l2, and substantially of the same curvature, the inner core, however, beingslightly-smaller to enable registration to be-had, but ofsufficient size as to-provide a=frictional-hold, when'the innerco're is inregistration with 2 the: frame: At the rear of the end portion l3b, projections H are provided and at the rear of the end portion I30,

projections I8 are provided. The shape of these projections I1 and I8 correspond to the shape of the dove tail recesses IS in the frame I2, and register therewith, provide also a frictional hold, so that when the core I3 is inserted in the frame l2, it will remain in position without further fastening devices and resist any movement which may result from the manipulation of the separate belts.

Between the end portions I30 and I3b, the core I3 is provided with fins or partitions I6 extending beyond the surface of the core and these partitions I G extend circumferentially along the front and top and bottom curved portions of the core. They are spaced from eachother a distance about equal to the width of a band M (Fig. 7). In Fig. 6, twelve guideways for such bands are shown, but these may be increased or decreased in number. The end portion. I 30 has a scale indicator 22 shown thereon. The end portions [30 and I3b are the same in vertical section as shown in Fig. 9, and a vertical section of the frame I2 is shown in Fig. 8. A vertical section of the core I3 at line I -40 is shown in Fig. and a horizontal section on line II-I| of Fig. 6 is shown in Fig. 11. a

Each band I4 is made of plastic of an elastic type, and has its front surface of two contrasting colors, the meeting parts of the contrasting colors forming a line, where a knob or handle I5 is applied. In the embodiment, each entire half of the band is colored, for which reason Fig. 7 shows the inner surface also colored. The elasticity of the band permits it to be stretched so as to be moved over, in embracing manner, the larger sized end portion I3b or I 30, and also over the partitions or fins I6, until the desired trough is reached, when the inherent elasticity of the band causes a contraction so that the band embraces the core with a slight frictional hold. The band is moved over the core by means of the manipulating handle l5. When belt I4 is released to fall into a trough or track, it is still kept slightly stretched in excess of its normal relaxed dimension, maintaining a slight degree of friction which insures against accidental, involuntary shifting of position.

When it is necessary to change belts I4 to allow replacements of different colors or patterns, the operator inserts fingers under the band 14 on the cutout side I 3a of core 13 which lacks fins, and stretches the band I 4 until it can he slipped oil at either end. The replacing belt or band is then selected from a reserve assortment, stretched and slipped over core l3 and dropped into position in the vacant track.

With all of the guideways or shallow tracks of the core I3, filled with bands M, as shown also in detail in Fig. 4, the core is inserted into the cutout of the frame l2, and the instrument or device is then in assembled position as shown in Fig. 1. The desired numerals or letters are then inserted in the grooves and 2|, and the knobs or handles I 5 moved in response to any particular relation of ordinate to abscissa, and a graph produced as shown in Fig. 1.

Letters may be inserted in the groove 20 of the top portion of the frame I2 to indicate the character of the graph, and letters may be inserted in the spare groove of the vertical or horizontal to indicate the character of the ordinate or abscissa. In this manner, the essential elements of a complete graph can be assembled in very little time: Title, Scale caption, Scale of values, Source, Bar labels. Once these reference elements are established, the operator grasps the knob I5 of each belt [4 and raises or lowers it, sliding each belt l4 around the core I3 until the desired height is indicated relative to the scale.

The core may be removed and the bands then removed therefrom, and other bands of other colors or connotation replaced, and the core then again inserted, and a differently colored graph obtained.

Although the drawings shown here indicate specific proportions and a definite number of indicator belts, it should be understood that instru ments embodying the principles of my invention could be constructed with more or fewer indicators, and of varying proportions.

I have described several forms of my inven-- tion, but obviously various changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as set out in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an instrument for the presentation of quantitative data in visual graphic form, the combination of a frame having a rearwall, one vertical side Wall and two parallel horizontal walls projecting forwardly from the rearwall, leaving the remaining vertical side open, a core having end portions of substantially the same size as the guideways for registration therewith, and providing a frictionalhold, yet permitting a positively operated movement of the core in the frame for its insertion and removal, said core having spaced partitions forming tracks intermediary said end portions, and endless belts surrounding said core and each disposed in a track on said core, said belts having an inherent elasticity to enable the same to be stretched for moving over the end portions of the core, and to provide a frictional hold on the core when in the tracks, yet permitting a positively operated movement of the belt over the core, each belt consisting of two halves of contrasting colors, and substantially one half of the belts being visible when the core is in the frame, with the contrasting colors at their abutting ends forming the indicator, graduated indications along the vertical sidewall, graduated indications along at least one of said horizontal walls, one aligned longitudinally with each of said belts, whereby when the belt enveloped core is assembled in the frame, the respective belts may be moved to indicate a graph, with the meeting points of said contrasting colors of each belt horizontally aligned with one of the indications along the vertical side wall.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which the frame and end portions of the core have registering projections and grooves at the front of the rear wall and at the rear of the end portions for guiding the movement of the core when being inserted or disengaged from the frame.

RENE SENEGAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,740,978 Goldsmith Dec. 24, 1929 1,790,127 Whitcomb Jan. 27; 1931 

